Mechanism



A..s. `R|cHEY.`

MECHANISM vFOR COMPIITIG VEHICLE TRAVELI` APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, 1"9I9.

1,369,471. I Patented Feb. 22,1921.A

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

,Ai S,R|,H'EY K U MECH/msm FQR COMPUTING VEHICLE Timv'EL. AP'P'IFICATION .FILED AUGz-zo'. i919. 1,369 471. f Patented Feb. 22,1921. w d i 3 SHEETS-SHEET N UNITED .STATES PATENT formes.

ALBERT S. RIHEY, F "iiORCESTEt, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANISIVJ 'FOR C'iBltlIi-UTING' VEHICLE-TRAVEL Specification of Letters retient. Patented lileb. 22, 1921.

Application filed August 20, 1919. Serial No. Sl.

To all whom t may concern.:

"Be it known that I, ALnn'r S. Riot-mr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iorcesten in the ,county or' .Vorcester an'd State of Massachusetts, have `invented a new and useful Mechanism for Computing Vehielo-Travel, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to mechanism ter computing vehicle travel, either in units of distance or in units of t'are. The mechanism is particularly designed ior use on street railroad systems where the fare is based on the actual distance traveled.

This method of computingr fares is more .Y equitable than the Ausual system of using fixed fare limits, but has heretofore involved diihculties in the computation of individual fares which have rendered the system impractical for actual use.

It is the general object oi my invention to provide mechanism by which the actual travel between the points at which the pas senger enters and leaves the vehicle.

Another important feature of my invention consists in the provision of means for driving thesetwo recording machines or devices in definite relation to the travel of the vehicle. Other features relate to the provision of means for issuing a ticket to A preferred form oi myi invention is shown in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a street car, showing the general arrangement of my improved mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the machine for printing and issuing a ticket having an initial or incomplete' record thereon; 4

Fig. 3 isa plan view of one of the ticket 'feeding and cutting cylinders;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken along the line -fi-fi inY Fig. 3 and showing a ratchet feed;

F ig. 5 is a sectional side .elevation of the machine for completing the record on the ticket; V

Fig. G is a detail lett-hand elevation oi the driving connections of the rotatable dial,

tickets having both initial and complete records of different distances or fares thereon. y

I will first describe the general operation of my improved computing mechanism and will then describe the detailed construction ot one'form ot' the mechanism.

In the following description, it will be assumed that the mechanism is in use on a street car operated by the usual motorman that the mechanism may also be used on an Y automobile, omnibus or on other types of public conveyance.

As a passenger enters the car by the front 100 entrance, the motorman operates a ticket issuing machine A, preferably by a foot pedal, and the machine prints a ticket and issues the same tothe passenger. This ticket will have an initial or partial record 105 and conductor, although it will be obvious f I rotating a printing'melnber 4:6 preferably hiet iachine exact dista the points and eav'e. 'to 4such tin .1re thus is complete. each passeng exactly to th yrendent of cations.

8 l indicated a 'ticket in i the fare is o cents for the iirst mile, ne one cent add sional foreach succeeding mile; and in ll, a ticket is shown in which the fare i 5 cents for the first mile and two centsv for each additional mile, while in Fig. 12, the ticket indicates the actual distance traveled. @ther combinations of fare or distance'may beprovided on the dials as desired. Y The machines L '.nd E are both driven in definite relation to the travel of the car, and any suitable or convenient meansof driving the machines in such definite relation may be adopted. A. convenient method of driving the machines is by positive connections from'a`member associated with one of the car wheels.

Such connections are indicated in Fig'. 1, in which a pinion 20 is rotated by a gear 2l` associated 'with'the car wheel 22 or mounted on the axle thereof. The pinion 20 `drives a. worm 23 through a iiexible shaft 24- and the worm 23 meshes with a worm wheel 25 ona longitudinally extending shaft 26. The shaftpQG is connected through sections 27 and 2S and suitable universal ljoints 29 to worms 3() engaging worm gears 31 -on the lower end of vertical shafts 32. The shafts 3Q extend upward through posts or standards 33 and 34. on the front and rearj platforms, respectively, and may be provided at their upper ends with vsockets 35 and 36 (Figs. 2 and 5).

A shaft 37 is vertically mounted in bearings inthe frame 38a of the ticket issuing machine A, thev lower end of the shaft being shaped .to fit the socket 35 on the shaft 32. At its upper end the shaft 37 is provided with a worm 38 enga ing a worm gear 39 on a short horizontal'siaft al), provided at its opposite end With a lbevelf pinion fiel which, in turn, meshes with a bevel gea-r 42. The gear 42 is mountedon-a short vertical shaft 43,- rotatable ina fixed bearing del and supporting a dial'or other impression device at its lower end. Similar drivingy mechanismis providedin the machine B .for

having an arrow or'index formed thereon.

elemel and I in dei 1 vel or the vehicle ill .at otl suitable i; iving connections he subs ed if. desired.

will new describe the de by which "iie tick the passenger.

pivot 5l? in a A the machine frame This cover may opened by removing the scr-ew 52, and tl. ticket roll may thns be easily replenished. rhe ticket strip passes over a guide roll and under a second Iguide roll 5l, preferably provided with iianges for centering the ticket under the dial Additional guide pins 56 on each side of the dial dmay also be provided for guiding the ticket strip. fi lixed printing plate 57 may be provided to impress any desired information on the ticket as indicated at D inF ig. 8. A consecutive numbering device 58 may also be provided, havingr 'a ratchet wheel 59'engaged by a pawl 60, pivotally mounted on a platen 61, and effectivel to advance the numbering device' one unit at each downward movementof the platen; only the unit wheel is shown in the drawings, as theA printing key 62. bearing a number or other device indicating the motorinan or car operator. Preferably, a locking arm G3 is pivv oted at G4 to the frame 38 and is normally positioned by a spring so that it is above a lug 66 on the side of the platen 61 and prevents-the operation thereof. lVhen the key 6:2 is inserted, it engages t-he arm 63 and moves it to one side', thus releasing the platen. y

An ink ribbon R preferably extends be; tween the several printing devices and the ticket T, the ribbon "being suitably guided and bein wound upon a spool 67, provided with ratc et teeth 68, engaged by a pawl G9, pivotally mounted on the platen 61, and advancing the ribbon slightly on each downward movement of the platen.

The end of the ticket is received between' feed rolls 70 and 7l, the roll 71 having cutting 'plates 72 inserted at one point -in the periphery but slightly separated at their inner ends as clearly shown in Fig. The roll O-is provided with suitable recesses corresponding in position to the knives 72. The rolls 70 and 7l are connected by a' pair of-gears 73-73 so that they rotate together. The roll 71 is also provided with ratchet teeth 74 (Fig-4) -engaged by a pawl 75, mounted to rotate withl a pinion 76. Any

1,369,471 I i i B` suitable locking pawl 78 (Fig. 2) may also be provided to prevent backward movement of the feed rolls. f

The pinion 76 is engaged by an internal segment gear 79, pivoted at 80 in the frame 88 and connected by a link 81 to a plunger 82, slidable in the bearing 83 in the frame 38, and having its downward movement limited by a collar 84 on said plunger. An actuating rod 85 is vertically slidable iii the post or standard 33 and engages the lower end of the plunger 82. The rod 85 may be moved by the motorman or operator in any convenient manner as by the pedal 86, link 87 and bell cranks' 88 and 89 shown in Fig. 9. A spring 90 (Fig. 2) normally holds the lsegment 79 against the fixed stop 91.

As the plunger 82 is moved upward, the

I segment 79 moves the pawl 75 idly backward over the ratchet teeth 74'. ln its continued upward movement, the plunger 82 engages the platen 61 and forces the platen and ticket upward against the ribbon R and,

against the several printing devices, provided the key 62 is in place to release the platen from the locking arm 68.

Then pressure on the plunger 82 is relieved, the spring 90 returns the segment to initial position. During said return movement, the feed rolls 70 and 71 perform a complete i'evolution, projecting the printed ticket from the machine and nearly severing the same by the knives 72. At the same time, thc pawl 60 advances the serial numbering wheels 58 and the pawl 69 operates the ribbon feed. n s

The segment 79 is provided with a series of external teeth 7 9n positioned for engagement by a double acting pawl 91 held in normal or mid-position by a spring 92. Afterthe movement of the segment in either direction has begun, the pawl 91 prevents reverse movement until the first movement has been completed, thus insuring a full operative stroke of the plunger 82 andy a complete return of all parts to their original` positions. l

A latch 98 is pivotally mounted on the segment 79 in position to engage a plunger 94 having a head or striker 95, and yieldingly held in mid-.position by a spring 96.

As the se ent 79 moves upward, the plunger 94 is ifted until the angular movement of the parts causes separation thereof, just as the segment approaches its upper limit of travel. The plunger 94 then returns quickly beyond its original position and strikes a quick blow on a bell 97.

The casing 38a is detachably secured to the post or standard 33 in any convenient manner, as by a wing nut 98, and it will be understood that the machine A may be removed from the standard 33 and placed on the standard 34 when the direction of travel of the car is reversed.

l will now describe the details of thema.- chine B, shown in Fig. 5 and used ror cortipleting the record.

A printing element 46 having an arrow or other' indication thereon is driven from the socket 36 on the shaft or rod82, by connections similar to thosey used in machine A and shown in detail in Fig. 6. A platen 100- isr pivoted at 101 in the frame or casing 102 of the machine B and is commonly actuated manually by means of a handle 108. -A locking arm 104 is' provided, identical in structure and operation with the locking arm 68, and a key 105, preferably bearing the conductors number, is inserted in machine B to release the platen 100. T he keys 62 and 105 may be arranged so that the num bers printed thereby will appear side by side on the ticket, as indicated in Fig. 8. The ribbon mechanism yof machine B is also a duplicate of that shown in machine A.

l have provided means for insuring that each ticket shall be fully inserted in machine B before the platen is operated toVA impress the arrow or index on the previouslyprinted dial. f

For this purpose, I provide toggle arms 106 and 107, connected to eachother at 108. The arm 106 is pivoted to the frame 102 at 109, and the 'arm 107 is pivoted at 110 to a lever 111 which in turn-is pivoted at 112 to the frame 102. The opposite endof thev lever 111 is connected by a ,link 113 to the end of the platen 100. Y

When the toggle 'arms 106 and 107 are in line, the platen heldin its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 5. When the ticket T is inserted in a slot 114 in the casing 102, it is confined between guides 115,1Fig. 7, and its inmost position is determined by stops 116. Just before the ticket engagesthe stops, however, it strikes the toggle arm 107 and moves the arm backward a distance suicient to break the toggle. may then be operated by the handle 102 to impress an arrow or other` indication upon the previously printed dial. While I have shown the platen as operated bya handle 103, it will be obvious that it may be operated by a plungervafs 'in machine A, if so desired. Otherwise, the plunger 85 in the standard 34 is inoperative when the standard supports machine B, and is used only in connection ,with machine A.

It will be evident .from this description that the impression members`45 in machine A and 46 in machine B rotate in unison and l l occup.A i the saine angular position in referimpression of the dial 45 .upon the ticket,

The platen (alix machine and posi orrespois t route.

A tic.1 car is operated by conductor makes an impr Leon by machine The'position or" the inde::"or arrow upon the previously printed dial will indicate the relative advance or travel or' the car since the -iirst impression was made, and will thus indicate the length of' ride of: the passenger. It will be obvious that t .s in dication may be in anv desired units either directly in miles or in fractions thereof, or

in units of fares corresponding to the dis-Y tance traveled.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 I haveshown rec'.-

ords ot rides oi' dirlerent distances, taking place in different parts of the route. Figs.

10 and llindicating the result in: terms of tare and Fig. 12 indicating thedistance in miles.

In Fig. 10 I have` indicated in full lines at a the initial record as it would be'produced for a passenger` entering the car nearthe beginning of its route. The position of the index 46 at the same point-in the route is indicated in dotted lines at Z). i I have also indicated in full lines at c the complete record for a ride of between three and four miles, where the initial fare for the lirst mile is live cents` with one cent for cach additional mile. The fare to be collected is eight cents. The iinal position of the dial 40 45 at thetime thatthe record is completed is shown at d. 1

By comparison ofthe full and dotted figures in each case, it will be seen that lthe i dial and index always occupy the same relative angular positioinat the same point in` 'of cash fare, thus indicating 1 5 cents for.y

the ride.

In Fig. 12 I have indicated the initial and complete record where the record is made directly in terms of miles, the complete rec-Y ord indicating aride of between three and four miles.

The records given: in Figs. 10 t0 12 are illustrative only, and it will be understood that different dials may be 'provided to indicate the record in any desired units.

sin by which tA actual I' 'for each mesenger may be l by mechanical mear@ ecor(1 .showin` directly tht r each separate passenger. or pondin thereto. ave shown the machines il?. and ved casings, and as disposed z opposite ends oit the car, it will?" be evident that the machines may be mounted side by side or may be arranged in a single casing where the passengers enter and leave the car trom one end only, as in theV so-called one-man car. a0

I have shown the machine as driven direct tromthe wheels, but the broad features of `my invention are not to be limited to a 'travel of the car between impressions. 90

Obviously, a reversal .of the impression devices so that the arrow or index would bev printed first and the dial added later would be within the scope of my invention and would produce the same identical results.

Obviously also the ticket feeding, cutting and delivering mechanism may be omitted and the tickets may be inserted by the passenger or operator in machine A as has been described for machine B.

Theserial numbering ofthe tickets furnishes a valuable check upon the conductor, as a complete set of tickets consecutively numbered nust be turned in, together with the Jfull amount of fares called for by the separate tickets. The consecutive numbering efectually'prevents the conductor from holding out certain tickets, and retaining the fareslrepresented thereby.

Having thus described my invention itv will be evident that changes and modifications can be made therein by thoselskilled in the art within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims, and I do not wish tobe otherwise limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim 1s:

1. A mechanism for computing vehicle travel having, in combination, a device for making any number of separate partial records, an additional device for completing each record to show a computed total, and means to drive said tv vo devices in definite relation to the travel of the vehicle. 2. A mechanism for computing vehicle travel having, in combination, means for printing `certain `parts of an individual travel record for each of a plurality of passenger's, means to complete each record to effective to print and deliver a preliminary for making certain parts of a record in a.

record when a passenger enters the vehicle, a second machine effective to complete each record to show a computed total when said passenger is about to leave the vehicle, and

means todrive both machines in definite,

relation to the travel of the vehicle.

4. A mechanism for computing vehicle travel having, in combination, a machine effective to print certain portions of any number of separate records, a second machine effective to print the remaining portion of each record to show a computed total, and means to drive both machinesin definite relation to the travel of the vehicle.

5. A mechanism for computing vehicle travel having, in combination, a machine position determined by the prior travel of the vehicle, a second machine for completing the record to show a computed total Kby making additional portions of the record in a position determined bythe prior travel lof the vehicle to the point where the record is completed, and meansto drive said rtwo machines in definite relation to the travel of the vehicle. l

6. A mechanism for computing vehicle travel having, in combination, means to print an initial record-'on a ticket as the passenger begins his travel, means to indicate a number on said record as the passenger finishes his ride, -said number representing a computed total .having a definite relation to the distance traveled, and driving mechanism for lsaid means actuated in definiterelation to the travel of the vehicle.

7. A mechanism for computingy vehicle travel having, in combination, a machine for making a preliminary record and havin a printing member rotatable in definite re ation to the vehicle travel, and a second machine having a member effective to complete said record to show a computed total and also rotatable in definite relation to the vehicle travel.

8. A mechanismfor computing vehicle travel having, in combination, a machine for making any number of preliminary records of vehicle travel, a machine for thereafter completing each record to show a com-V ositive driving connecputed total and a i I tion between ,a vehicle wheel andsaid' machines.

9. A .mechanism for computing vehicle travel having, in combination, a machineV for making any number of preliminary records of vehicle travel, a machine for thereafter completing each record to show a computed total, and a geared connection from a vehicle wheel to both of said machines.

10. A mechanism for computing vehicle travel having, in combination, a machine for printing on a ticket a dial definitely positioned in reference to the prior travel of the vehicle, a machine for printing an index sign on said ticket, also denitely positioned in reference` to the prior travel of the vehicle at the point where the record is completed, and means to drive both machines in definite relation to the travel of said vehicle.

l1. A, mechanism for 4computing vehicle travel having, in combination, means to make any number of records, each by two' impressions showing completed vehicle travel between said impressions, and mechanism to. drive said means in definite relation to the vehicle travel.

12. A mechanism forcomputing rvehicle travel having, in combinatiom-means to make any number 'of records, each by two impressions showing completedv vehicle travel between said impressions, a device to print a serial number. on said record, and mechanism to drive said means in definite relation to the travel of the vehicle.

13. A mechanismfor computing vehicle travel having, in' combination, means 'f toeach 'by vtvv'o make any number ofrecords impressions showing com leted travel between said impressions, devices to indicate the`operato11on said record, and

mechanism to drive said means in definite relationto the travel of the vehicle.A

14. A mechanism for computing. vehicle travel having, in combination, means effective to print and deliver to an entering .passenger a ticket havinga preliminary record thereon, and means thereafter to complete said record as said passenger `is about to leave the vehicle to indicatethe travel between two recording operations, said means being each rendered operative by the l insertion therein of a* device effective to make an auxiliary impression indicating the operator. f v

15. A mechanism for computing've'hicle travel comprising a machine to print and deliver any number of tickets, each having.

an 'initialrecord thereon, a machine effective to complete each record to show. a comdeiiver any number of tickets, each havingv puted total, and interchangeable driving l an initiairecord thereon, a locking device ling said locking device7 and means to thereafter complete each record to shov` a oom- 5 puted total.

Il?. In a machine for computing vehicle travel, a ticket printing machine lhaving a I manually movable platen,` and a toggle to lock said platen in inoperative position, said x toggle being positioned to be directly renlO gaged and broken by a fully inserted ticket, and a spring to restore 'Said toggle to locking position when the ticket is Withdrawn.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto axeclmy signature.

ALBERT S.' RICHEY. 

